Hydraulic clutch or braking device



July 11, 1933. F. HENRIOT HYDRAULIC CLUTCH OR BRAKING DEVICE Filed May-16, 1931 INVENTOR. f2. 0 YD HEP/R1071 A TTORNEYS.

Patented July 11, 1933 FLOYD ENRIOT, F KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON HYDRAULICCL' UTCH OR BRAKING DEVICE Application filed May 16, 1931. Serial No.537,948.

My invention relates to improvements hydraulic clutch or braking devlcesand it consists of the combinations, constructlons .and arrangementshereinafter described and claimed. v

An object of my invention is to provlde an hydraulic clutch or brakingdevice making use of two members rotatable with respect vanes. Themembers are interconnected by a fluid and can be moved into eccentricposiltions for causing the rotation of one of the members to tend torotate the other member.

N If the second member is held against rotation it will be seen that itwill have a braking action on the first member when the adjustment issuch that the first one will try to rotate the second one.

a The device can also be used for other purposes, such as a clutch and avariable speed transmission or a combination of transmission and clutch.The device is extremely simple in construction, and when used as atransmission, can efiect a gradual change in speed between the drive andthe driven member which is impossible with the standardmechanical typeof transmission. For example, if the driving member is rotating at 20000 R. P. M., the device may be adjusted so that the driven member isgradually accelerated in speed from a standstill to a speed equal todevice, portions being shown in elevation,

Figure 2 is an end view of a modified form with parts of the deviceremoved;

Figure 3 is a transverse section through Figure 2, parts being shown inelevation;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rotor Figure 5 is anotherperspective view of the rotor showing the vanes in place;

. to each other, one of the members having- Figure 6 is a plan view ofone of the vanes; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showlng the parts in adifferent posltion. In carrying out my invention I provlde an J outershell 1 (see Figure 3) that is mounted upon a shaft 2. The shell or drumis preferably cylindrical and is concentrically mounted with respect tothe shaft 2. An eccentric recess 3 is formed in the end wall 4 of theshell 1 and the recess 3 has a depression 5 for receiving a shiftingfinger 6. The finger is mounted upon a shaft 7 which extends through theend wall 4 and a packing gland 8.

An inner shell or cylinder 9 is eccentrically mounted on a disc 10 thatis received in the recess 3. The outer surface of the disc 10 has aradially extending ;slot 11 for receiving a projection 12 carried by theshifting finger 6. 7 A shifting lever 13 is secured to the shaft 7 and arocking of this lever will swing the disc 10 in the recess 3 for movingthe inner shell 9 from' a concentric'relation with re spect to the outershell 1 as shown in Figure 2 into an eccentric relation as shown in Fiure 7.

ithin the inner shell 9, ii mount a rotor 14 of the shape shown inFigures 4 and 5. The outer diameter of the rotor is less than the innerdiameter of the inner shell (see F1gures2 and 7). The rotor iscylindrical 1n shape and has diametrically disposed slots 15 forslidably receiving vanes 16. In Figure 5, I show two vanes 16 and eachis proas vided with a recess 17 to permit relative movement between thevanes.

The rotor 14 is supported by a shaft 18 that is axially aligned with theshaft 2 when the device is assembled. In Figure 3,1 show a fluid tightcover 19, that is secured to the outer shell by screws 20, or othersuitable fastening means. The oil tight cover has a tubular portion 21for receivingthe shaft 18 and a packing gland 22 is mounted at the g5outer end of the tubular member.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood.

The device shown in Figures 2 to 7 inclusive can be used as a clutch ora braking device. -When the inner shell 9 is concentric with respect tothe rotor 14 there will be no binding action between the shafts '2 and18. The fluid that fills the inner shell 9 will be circulated within theshell by the vanes 16 during the rotation'of the shaft 18. When thedevice is used for a brake the shell 1 is I shaft 24 and 25 and thisrotation will rock held against rotation.

If now the handle 13 is swung, the inner shell 9 will be moved into aneccentric position with respect to the rotor 14 as shown in Figure 7. Ifnow the shaft 18 is rotated in a clockwise direction, a pocket (1 willbe formed by the inner surface 23 of the inner shell 9, a portion of theouter surface of the rotor 14, and a portion of the vane 16. The vane 16forming a portion of the pocket will be moved in the direction of itslength by the camming action caused by the inner surface 23. This willreduce the size of the pocket a and the pocket will further be reducedby the swinging of the vane 16 in a clockwise direction. The liquidtrapped in the pocket will tend to escape between the vane 16 and theinner surface 23 and between the outer surface of the rotor 14 and thesurface 23. The escape of the liquid, however, is not fast enough to,free all of the liquid, and therefore the trapped liquid will act as awedge in connecting the inner shell 9 with the rotor 14. The result is abraking action and the outer shell 1 are held against rotation. If theinner shell- 9 is slowly moved from a concentric osition into theeccentric position shown in I igure7 the braking action will be raduallyapplied and the shaft 18 will be s owly brought to a stop. The samebraking action is effective on the shaft 18 regardless of the directionof rotation.

In Figure 1, I show the device applied to a transmission for causing thedriven shaft shaft 2. The shifting to rotate at any desired speed up toa speed equal to the driving shaft. This form of the device can also actas a clutch. In this form of the device the shell 1 is mounted upon ahollow shaft 24 corresponding to the finger 6 is mounted upon a stubshaft 25 that takes the place of the shaft 7. The stub shaft 25 isconcentrically mounted within the shaft 24 and has two spiral grooves26. The shaft 24 has two longitudinally extending grooves 27 A collar 28slides on the shaft 24 and has pins 29 that enter the slots 27 and thegrooves 26. A spring 30 urges the collar 28 to the right in Figure 1.

In the operation of this form of the device the wedging action of thetrapped fluid will take place in the same manner as that described inthe device when used as a brake. The change in structure in thetransmission form of the device is solely for the purpose of adjustingthe inner shell 9 with respect to the outer shell 1 during the actualrotation of the shafts 24 and 18. A fork 31 or other suitable means isused for moving the collar 28 to the left in Figure 1. The movement ofthe collar 28 can'be accomplished while the shaft 24 is rotating. ThlSmovement will cause the pins 29 to slide in the slots 27 and grooves 26and cause a rotation between the the shifting finger and change theosition of the inner shell 9 with respect to t e outer shell 1.

If the shaft 24 is the driving one, and the inner shell 9 is concentricwith the outer shell embodiments of my invention it is to be understoodthat the same is susceptible of various changes and I reserve the rightto employ such changes as may come within the scope of the claims heretoannexed.

The space between the outer and inner shells 1 and 9 is filled with afluid such as upon the shaft'18 because the inner shell 9 oil and thisreserve supply of oil also facilitates the cooling of the device. Theouter shell or drum 1 supports the inner shell or cylinder 9. Alldriving between the parts is done on a cushion of oil so that smoothoperation is assured at all times. 7

There are few moving parts and when in free,running position, the rotoris the only moving part. When the device is used as a brake there isvery little wear. The device is inexpensive to manufacture because it ismade up of parts that can be either stamped or cast. The device hasalong life because the parts continually run in oil. Braking is notaccomplished by friction, but by internal oil pressure.

I claim: 1. A rotatable shaft carryin a concentric drum with an axiallyaligne sleeve, the

end of the drum disposed adjacent to the shaft having a circular recesseccentrically disposed, a disc rockable in the recess and 2. A rotatableshaft carrying a concentric drum with an axially aligned sleeve, the endof the drum disposed adjacent to the shaft having a circular recesseccentrically disposed, a disc rockable in the recess and having aneccentric cylinder extending from end to end of the drum, means forrocking the disc in the recess for moving the cylinder from a concentricto an eccentric position with respect to the drum, a rotatable shaftmounted in the sleeve and carrying a concentric rotor that is smaller indiameter than the cylinder and is rotatably mounted therein,diametrically extending vanes carried by the rotor and pro1ecting beyondits periphery, and a fluid filling the cylinder,

said means comprising a shifting fingerhaV- ing an end connected to thedisc, a stub shaft connected to the other. end of the finger, and 'meansfor rocking the stub shaft.

3. A transmission comprising a rotatable shaft having a central boretherein, a drum mounted concentrically on the end of the shaft andhaving a concentrically disposed sleeve projecting from its other end, acylinder mounted in said drum, means for moving th cylindereccentrically with respect to the drum, said means including a stubshaft mounted in the bore and having spiral grooves, said first namedshaft having longitudinally extending slots, a collar slidable on thefirst shaft and having pins slidable in the slots and grooves, arotatable shaft mounted in-the sleeve and carrying a rotor disposed. inthe cylinder, vanes projecting from the rotor and being movedlongitudinally by the cylinder When the cylinder is eccentric to therotor, and a fluid filling the cylinder. v

4. In combination, a drum having an eccentric recess, a disc mounted inthe recess and carrying a cylinder, a rotor mounted in the cylinder andhaving its axis ali ned with the"axis of the drum vanes carrie by therotor and being substantially equal to the inner diameter of thecylinder, and means ,for rocking the disc With respect to the drum formoving the cylinder eccentrically to the

